Plaza De La Constitucion

March 13, 2009

Mexico City was founded by Aztecs. The legend goes that a shaman was asked by his band where they should settle. He told them to travel north until they see an eagle on a cactus eating a snake. They saw the vision on an island in the middle of a shallow lake. There they settled and built the the main Aztec Temple.

Aztecs rose and fell (like all societies seem to do). Legends and a few ruins remained and farmers still maintained and farmed the raised beds built in the shallow lake. A colonial city flourished on the old site.

Today in the Plaza De La Constitucion where the Cathedral and the National Palace of Mexico reside there is a flagpole. It marks the legendary spot where the cactus, eagle and snake were seen.

An open-air market features indigenous handicrafts, shamans and Aztec dancers.

The National Palace houses the offices of the President and the original legislature. The legislature has long since moved to larger quarters, but the hall is preserved and revered as the place the constitution was adopted. Diego Rivera painted 15 murals in the National Palace. They draw huge crowds of school children and adults alike on tours of the expansive building.

In the early 90's work on new buildings commenced just off the square and the excavators found foundations of huge buildings, some nearly a block long. The myths and legends have become more real and believable as the archaeologists take over, unearth and document what indeed appears to be the Aztec's main temple.

The Cathedral is filled with faithful and visitors alike. The massive stone structure is being saved from sinking sideways into its sandy underpinnings. Massive engineering projects are underway. The efforts are plainly visible by a plumb-bob hanging from the dizzying top of an arched vault high above the floor. The progress of over three hundred years of settling and fifty years of salvation show a path coming halfway back to plumb, as she was built so long ago.